As Palin Picks Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire, Palin-Endorsed Karen Handel Surges in Georgia

AP

Karen Handel, Georgia's former secretary of state, has surged ahead in recent polls of Republican gubernatorial contenders, in the wake of an endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The latest poll, from InsiderAdvantage/WSB-TV, shows Handel with 28 percent of the vote, while her closest GOP rival, former Rep. Nathan Deal, stands at 17 percent. State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, the front-runner as recently as eight days ago, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, garners 13 percent.

Palin last week endorsed Handel, the only woman seeking the governor's office in Georgia, calling her a "pro-life, pro-Constitutionalist with a can-do attitude and a record of fighting for ethics in government."

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who was jolted into the national spotlight after deciding to take on the Obama administration over the issue of illegal immigration, has also endorsed Handel.

"When Congress failed to act on illegal immigration, I took action to solve the problem," Brewer said in a statement. "Karen will fight to pass similar illegal immigration laws in Georgia. If President Obama tries to stop her, she will tell him to 'Bring it On.'"

As Handel has accumulated endorsements from prominent conservative women, she has accused Deal of targeting her because of her gender.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010
Photos: Campaign 2010

"Does Nathan have a problem with women in leadership? After all, women can do more than just fetch your coffee, Mr. Deal," Handel told the Paulding County Republican Examiner last week.

Handel also recently accused Deal of sexism for distributing a press release saying that "real women" support Deal's campaign. Deal called the charges of sexism "absurd." His campaign slogan is "Deal. Real."

While Handel is currently in the lead, Tuesday's primary will likely lead to a run-off, which is necessary if no candidate secures 50 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile Palin announced today her support for yet another "mama Grizzly" -- her term for conservative female candidates. She endorsed former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte for the Senate, calling Ayotte "tough on crime, supportive of law enforcement, and tireless in the defense of the rights of the people of New Hampshire."

Ayotte is one of several candidates competing for the GOP nomination to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Judd Gregg. Rep. Paul Hodes is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

[babooph]

In the deep south,a Palin support is not the kiss of death it should be...

[cleric60]

I wonder why the liberals/socialists like to "demonize" Sarah Palin or anyone who publicly disagrees with them.
What are they afraid of??? Truth?

[CAROLINAUNC]

OBAMA IS SO CONFUSED HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT WHAT IS GOING ON "NOW" IS HIS FAULT! HE STILL BLAMES EVERYTHING ON SOMEONE ELSE.

OBAMA AND THE LIBERALS IN CONGRESS BASED THE ENTIRE 2008 CAMPAIGN ON LIES. THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO STAY IN POWER. OBAMA IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO WEAKEN THE USA.

OUR PRESIDENT-IN-TRAINING HASN'T HANDLED ANYTHING SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE. HE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO HOLLYWOOD ---- NOT OUR WHITE HOUSE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE PROMISED TO CREATE JOBS. INSTEAD, HE CRAMMED OBAMACARE DOWN OUR THROATS.

OBAMA SHOULD: SUPPORT OUR MILITARY!!! CREATE JOBS!!! BUILD THE FENCE AND SECURE OUR BORDERS!!! STOP THROWING LAVISH PARTIES AND STAYING ON VACATION MOST OF THE TIME!!! HE SHOULD START DOING HIS JOB!!!

ILLEGAL MEANS UNLAWFUL!!! Why won't the Obama administration protect AMERICAN CITIZENS AND OUR BORDERS??? The Obama administration doesn't recognize them as illegal immigrants,THEY THINK OF THEM AS "UNREGISTERED DEMOCRATS"!!! The Democrats have stooped to new lows for pandering to the Hispanic voting bloc.

The American people will make them pay in November.

[ngtk]

I'm surprised Palin Endorsed Handel

everything we hear is Handel does not have history of a conservative and more liberal!

I know she is not getting our vote! we need real conservatives right now, not just someone running on a ticket saying they are!

hopefully the state of georgia's voters will see through her

[starleo146]

Sarah Palin, what a hoax, her and her mama grizzlies, Sarah do you know what grizzlies do in the fall? They Hibernate, please do the same and take your mama grizzlies with you please.

[RespectMichael]

Yea yea..we know..the left wants free speech gone ..they want to go abck to the days of EAst Germany...they miss all that government control..they are regressives..I don't know where they came up with progressive..because they want to go back centuries..when we had the rich and powerful monarchs and their selected few..and everyone else lived the same..what do they call that? Social justice? fairness..they are crazy..

[starleo146]

Sarah Palin, what a hoax, her and her mama grizzlies, Sarah do you know what grizzlies do in the fall? They Hibernate, please do the same and take your mama grizzlies with you please.